Children and adults should read frequently. However, regular reading time for children is especially important to help them gain proficiency and confidence and reach grade-level literacy benchmarks. Daily reading homework is usually assigned by teachers across all elementary grade levels; even kindergartners might be expected to read 15 to 20 minutes per day at home.

Listening to stories and reading independently are both crucial to the development of key literacy skills. Hearing a book read aloud helps children increase their vocabulary knowledge and develop a passion for reading. Children can listen to stories via story reader apps and audiobooks, but what is a story reader app?

Here’s what to know about the benefits of these apps and where to download them.

All About Story Reader Apps

Story reader apps read books to children. These apps are the same as audiobooks. Story reader apps are a convenient way to bring the storytime experience to children from anywhere and at any time.

Before books on tape or audiobooks, children needed a parent or caregiver to read books aloud to them. Story reader apps take this experience to a tech-savvy level. These apps can be downloaded onto mobile devices to make the storytime fun on-the-go.

While hearing a book being read aloud isn’t the same as reading independently, children still gain valuable skills from listening to stories. For example, using a story reader app or listening to an audiobook can allow children to enjoy books that might be more advanced.

Reading books beyond a child’s level can be frustrating if the child is left alone trying to decode the story and discern the meaning without help. However, audiobooks and story time apps read the book to the child. They can listen and follow along; hearing the narration can help them identify emotions of characters and learn new words, too.

Although audiobooks or storytime apps don’t require children to decode, they do require children to comprehend the story and focus on the details. In addition, hearing books aloud allows children to also hear words in context. In this way, children might not just be exposed to new words, but the context and the emotion of the reader (or narrator) could make it easier for children to discern the meaning of the word.

Hearing Books Introduces Children to New Adventures

Listening to stories can expose children to new stories and adventures that they might not be able to enjoy independently. Story reader apps and audiobooks are professionally narrated; children can follow along in a book (if they own the book) or follow along on the screen (some story reader apps show the book as it’s read aloud).

With story reader apps, children don’t necessarily have to worry about the reading level of the book they want to enjoy. They can listen to a book for entertainment and they can choose a book based on curiosity.

Children might even choose books below their reading level. Maybe they want to hear how the narrator will voice the different characters. Audiobooks put sounds of adventure and emotion into the story. Children can hear the happiness of characters, and they can hear the sadness or maybe even the anger, too.

This narration adds a rich experience to the book journey. Hearing books can encourage children to want to read more. Perhaps a book is part of a series; children might want to begin the next book to find out what happens in the series.

Where Can Parents Find Story Reader Apps?

Parents might wonder how to find story reader apps. Those with an Apple device can search for audiobook apps or story reader apps via the App Store; Google Play offers audiobook apps for Android. There could be many apps available, and some might require a subscription.

Audible is one of the most popular audiobook apps and services. The app is free to download, but a subscription is required for audiobooks and podcasts. Some books can be purchased through Audible, too.

The Books app via Apple devices also allows parents access to a library of audiobooks. Prices vary per book. Android devices might offer a similar app and service.

There also are apps that are focused on early childhood literacy and that are designed to help children read more fluently. Parents could find many different programs, and prices may vary.

Readability is a lesson-based reading app that offers a built-in AI tutor that helps children as they read stories aloud. The app includes a library of books at every reading level, and Readability offers a special feature for its books called Storytime. The Storytime feature reads Readability books to children; they can enjoy hearing a book read aloud in the car, at home, from any place and at any time. In addition, children can follow along in the book as they listen to the narration.

The Price of Story Reader Apps

Parents might love the idea of having an app that offers a library of books that children can listen to and enjoy. However, the cost could be an issue for some parents. In addition, some families don’t want to commit to a subscription to a service if they haven’t explored it.

Audiobook apps and story reader apps vary in price. Parents can research the cost of these apps to find out how much books cost or understand the price of a monthly subscription.

Parents who want an app that reads to children and that helps them read could try out Readability. The monthly subscription price for Readability is $19.99, and parents can use one account for up to three children. In addition, Readability offers a free seven-day trial period; parents can sign up for a trial to explore the features of the program. The free trial also gives children access to the AI tutor; this virtual tutor helps children during their reading lessons.

Parents Can Create Their Own Audiobooks

Some parents just don’t have the time to read aloud to children. Audiobooks can offer the story time experience when parents are too busy to sit down with their children and read to them, and programs like Readability also offer a storytime experience.

In addition to apps and audiobooks, parents could use their phone or tablet to make a video of them reading a book to their child. They also could record themselves reading the book to create a DIY audiobook.

Listen to a Book and Expand the Reading Journey

Children should read regularly to help gain confidence and proficiency. The more a child reads, the more confident they might feel. Children can read the same book over and over again to increase their speed and fluency. In addition, they can read with their parents to practice their reading skills.

Many children enjoy hearing a story read aloud. While hearing a story doesn’t help with decoding skills in the same way that reading aloud helps with this skill, listening to stories offers its own benefits. Children can enjoy books that are beyond their reading level, and they can build vocabulary knowledge, too.

When children listen to stories, they also might identify the emotions of characters through the voice of the narrator. Hearing a story also could help children pick up on a character’s motivations.

Parents can download apps that include access to audiobooks or reading tutoring apps that offer narrated story features. Encourage children to follow along in the book as they listen. Parents also can let children choose the stories they want to hear; let children control their reading adventures by giving them the freedom to explore the characters, topics and authors that interest them and that engage their curiosity.